Nationally, an audit indicated more than 57,000 veterans waited at least three months for their first doctor’s appointment while other veterans were never on a waiting list.

The local VA hospital said those numbers need context. Seven years ago, they started using a different system to account for veterans who need appointments. When the national numbers came out, they double checked.

Eileen Kingston is the associate director of patient care, nurse executive for the Nebraska-Western Iowa Region VA. She helps direct patient care and the nurses at the hospital near 41st Street and Woolworth Avenue.

Kingston said the executive team meets weekly with physicians and support staff.

“We review those numbers with them so this is nothing new to us,” Kingston said. “We’re constantly looking at access.”

As of May 15, The Associated Press reported 606 veterans in the Nebraska and western Iowa region had appointments that had not yet been scheduled.

“We’ve gone through about three-fourths of that list at this time,” Kingston said.

Kingston said the hospital did not find any veterans who had missed out on services. She said that’s a number staff members now look at daily.

Out of nearly 33,000 appointments, 833 were scheduled more than 30 days out. Kingston said that is usually pertains to new patients, and most are for specialty care such as dermatology.

“Sometimes we have a difficult time reaching veterans so some of that time is in those numbers as well,” Kingston said.

The Associated Press reported 229 veterans on an electronic waiting list for patients they cannot find access for within 90 days.

“My most recent number is in the 40s,” Kingston said. “That number changes every day, by the way. Capacity expands and contracts daily.”

The hospital adds primary care providers as demand increases and work with other hospitals to provide even more access.

Kingston said veterans and other members of the community that they don’t have a secret waiting list. She said they are not perfect, but staff members are doing all they can to keep veterans’ trust and get them care as quickly as they can.

TROUBLING TIMES FOR VETERANS AF IRS.. NOW FACING A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OVER DELAYS.. AND COVER-UPS. MORE THAN 57-THOUSAND VETS WAITED AT áLEAST THREE MONTHS FOR THEIR FIRST DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.. EVEN MORE WERE NEVER EVEN áON A WAITING LIST. TONIGHT.. ONLY ON SEVEN.. WE'RE TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT áOMAHA'S V-A HOSPITAL .. TO SEE IF VETS ARE GETTORG THE CARE THEY DESERVE. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN'S ADRIAN WHITSETT REPORTS. OUR LOCAL V-A HOSPITAL SAYS THOSE NUMBERS NEED CONTEXT. SEVEN YEARS AGO ...THEY STARTED USING A DIFFERENT SYSTEM TO ACCOUNT FOR VETERANS WHO NEEDED APPOINTMENTS.. CAME OUT -- THEY DOUBLE- "Access has always been a top priority for us.") A MISSION TO MAKE SURE NO ONE FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS. EILEEN KINGSTON HELP DIRECT PATIENT CARE..AND THE NURSES AT THE HOSPITAL NEAR 41ST AND WOOLWORTH. SHE SAYS THE EXECUTIVE TEAM MEETS WEEKLY STAFF.(Eileen Kingston: "We review those numbers with them so this is nothing new to us. We're constantly looking at access.") AS OF MAY 15TH REPORTED 606 VETERANS IN THE NEBRASKA AND WESTERN IOWA REGION WITH APPOINTMENTS THAT "HAD NOT YET BEEN SCHEDULED." (Eileen Kingston: "We've gone through about 3/4 of that list at this time. Adrian Whitsett. "And have you found any that were missing out on services? Kingston: 'No, there's been zero so far and that's a number we're looking at daily 33,000 APPOINTMENTS. 833 OF THEM SCHEDULED MORE THAN 30 DAYS OUT. KINGSTON SAYS USUALLY --THAT'S FOR áNEW PATIENTS --AND MOST ARE FOR SPECIALTY CARE LIKE E.N.T, OR DERMATOLOGY.(Eileen Kingston: "Sometimes we have a difficult time reaching veterans so some of that time is in those numbers as well.") THE AP REPORTED 229 VETERANS ON AN ELECTRONIC WAITING LIST AS WELL. FOR PATIENTS THEY CAN'T FIND ACCESS FOR WITHIN 90 DAYS.(Eileen Kingston: "My most recent number is in the 40's that number changes every day by the way capacity expands and contracts daily.") PROVIDERS AS DEMAND INCREASES. AND WORK WITH OTHER HOSPITALS TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE ACCESS. ALL TO MAKE SURE THOSE WHO SERVED--GET THE CARE THEY NEED.(Eileen Kingston: "We care very deeply for this mission and that's why we're here.") KINGSTON ASSURES VETERANS AND THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY áSECRET WAITING LISTS HERE. SHE SAYS THEY'RE NOT PERFECT..BUT THEY'RE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO KEEP VETERAN'S TRUST AND GET THEM CARE AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN. ADRIAN WHITSETT, KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN.

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